Christ in 2 Peter -- The Morning Star

Peter wrote this letter from Rome, probably about 66 A.D., shortly before his death.  The purpose of this short letter was to both encourage and warn his fellow believers.

Peter began to encourage his brothers and sisters in Christ (and that includes us!) in the very first verse of the first chapter.  Peter had been one of Jesus Christ’s closest disciples.  He had walked and talked with Jesus all during His ministry.  He was on the Mount of Transfiguration when Jesus was glorified, and Peter heard the voice of God saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him (Matthew 17:5)!”  And here, as we begin to study this letter of encouragement, we see that he told his friends, his brothers and sisters in Christ, and he tells us that the faith we have is the same as his!  Now, if that doesn’t encourage you when you feel like your faith is weak, I don’t know what will!  This is how Peter began his letter:

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord (2 Peter 1:1-2).

First of all, he said that our faith comes because of God’s righteousness, not ours.  He also said that our faith is precious, and that we can have faith that is abundant.  He wrote that “abundant faith” comes through knowing more and more of God and Jesus.  The first chapter of his letter tells us how our faith can grow.  He repeated that even the growth of our faith is an act of God, that He gives us everything we need in order to know Him better, and that it was He who called us to Himself:

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness (2 Peter 1:3).

Secondly, Peter taught that we need to live Godly, morally excellent lives.  We are able to do that, even though we live in a sinful world, by faith which grows by growing our knowledge of God:

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8).

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:10-11).

Peter warned his friends, and he warns us today, about false teachers and false doctrine.  He warned that their teachings would be destructive and that they would deny Jesus who gave his life for them.  They would promote depraved conduct and dishonor the truth that is taught in the Word of God:

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute (2 Peter 2:1-2).

That is why Peter made the point of reminding us that we cannot interpret God’s Word to suit our own whims or our own desires.  God’s word does not change, anymore than God Himself who never changes:

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21).

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17).

“I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty (Malachi 3:6-7).

Peter knew that his friends would face many, many temptations and would be confronted with many false teachers.  He knew there would be a time of darkness, a time that we would have to wait before Christ would return.  He knew without a doubt that Jesus would return, but he had no way of knowing how long that darkness, that night would last.  That’s why he referred to Jesus as the Morning Star:

We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts (2 Peter 1:19).

When Peter referred to Christ as The Morning Star, it created a mental picture of the bright star that is seen in the sky just before dawn.  The dark place, or the night, represents the time between Christ’s ascension into Heaven and His return.  During this dark time is when we live in opposition to the world’s order, the time when false teachers and false doctrines will arise. We wait for Him in the darkness, in anticipation of the time when He will eliminate all darkness. The dawn represents the time when God’s light will fill all of creation, when Christ will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, when every knee will bow to Him, and His enemies will be His footstool.  Just like the morning star that we see in the dark sky just before the sun comes up, Jesus will come for His people just before He comes to rule in eternity:

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning (Psalm 130:5-6).

“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty (Malachi 4:1-3).

To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations . . . just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star (Revelation 2:26, 27b-28).

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:16).”

One thing that Peter specifically warned about has even more relevance to us today.  The believers in his day were impatient for Christ’s return.  They thought it would happen in their lifetime.  And here we are, almost 2000 years later, and we are still waiting.  God knew we would be impatient.  Mankind has always been impatient and always will be.  But Peter explained that God is sovereign, that He is not being slow to fulfill His promises, but He is patient with His creation, not wishing destruction on anyone:

Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” . . . But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:3-4, 8-9).

Every day we live, we are one day closer to His return.  And when He returns, He will come in judgment:

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare (2 Peter 3:10).

Will you be ready when He comes?

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him (2 Peter 3:14).

That is my prayer for you and for me this week, along with the last verse in Peter’s second letter, 2 Peter 3:18:

Heavenly Father,
(Help us to) grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

All scripture references are from the New International Version.